General Howe had at his disposal for the invasion of Westchester County, after leaving behind him ample garrisons, as well as all his sick, an army many thousands larger -- all professional soldiers. The contrasting conditions are thus powerfully summarized in the notorious Joseph Galloway's " Letters to a Nobleman": "The British army was commanded by able and experienced officers; the rebel by men destitute of military skill or experience, and, for the most par', taken from mechanic arts or the plough. The first were possessed of the best appointments, and more than they could use; and the other of the worst, and less than they wanted. The one were attended by the ablest surgeons and physicians, healthy and high-spirited; the other were neglected in their

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

murmuring and health clothing, and pay, were sickly, and constantly ng victory and carryi troops, n vetera were one dissatisfied. And the raised and new were other the led; were they oever conquest wheres er atwherev enemy defeated undisciplined, a panic-struck and the force tacked Such is the true comparative difference between the rebellion/' sent to suppress and that which supported

CHAPTEE

CAMPAIGN

XVII

BATTLE

OF WHITE

PLAINS

ENERAL HOWE'S determination to move his army into Westchester County by way of the East River ami Long Island Sound was perfectly guarded from Washington's knowledge. In all the official correspondence on the American side up to the day of Howe's landing in our county (October 12), there appears not the slightest inkling of the real designs of the British commander. Indeed, during the days when Howe was making the final preparations for his grand coup, American attention was absorbed by the successful passage of the three British frigates (the "Phoenix," " Roebuck," and "Tartar") up the Hudson River past the batteries of the forts and around the chevaux de frise, which was deemed a most calamitous occurrence.